Third Time Treatment = Failed (Help!)

[fungus]

Hi,

I'm infected with Helicobacter pylori (breath test and blood test are positive)


Fist treatment:

Omeprazole 20 mg bid, Clarithromycin 500 mg bid, Amoxicillin 1 g bid (14 days)

Breath test: positive


Second treatment:

Omeprazole 40 mg bid, Amoxicillin 1 g bid, Metronidazole 400 mg bid (14 days)

Breath test: positive


Third treatment:

Omeprazole 20 mg, tetracycline 500 mg, nitazoxanide 500 mg, and bismuth subcitrate caplets 240 mg twice a day (with the midday and evening meals) (14 days) This is essentially "the super salvage regimen" as described here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12950603 but I replaced metronidazole with nitazoxanide as I already used metronidazole once and also to avoid the horrible side-effects metronidazole gives me.

Breath test: positive


Well, I can't take it much longer, my symptoms are killing me, I can't work, eat or sleep properly for the last 2 years and it's getting worse.

Anyone knows what's Marshall last resort therapy? The image is gone:

http://www.helico.com/treat_marshall.html

Am I an untreatable case? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[itsSarahyay1]

Hello,

I have treid the same antibiotics as you except the nitazoxanide also with no success. I wrote a post on here and dr.marsall suggested I try the antibiotic rifabutin, you can try that and there is also rifampin.

I haven't tried the rifabutin yet, I'm waiting on my next GI appt in october but I will let you know if it worked for me.

Good luck!

[Helico_expert]

I suggest you to do endoscopy and culture the bug for antibiotic sensitivity test. Clearly your bug is multi drug resistant. let's do some test and find out what's the right drug.

[fungus]

Thanks to both of you guys for helpful replies. Clearly, as Helico Expert mentions, the antimicrobial susceptibility testing would be ideal. I am thinking maybe for some cases (like me) the treatment period of 14 days is still too short, I meen the tuberculosis treatment is several months. I would trully appreciate if someone could point me to a good Helicobacter pylori expert in UK. I have just moved to UK this week so any help would be greatly appreciated. I must beat this bug!

[itsSarahyay1]

I'm no expert, but I believe once you find the right antibiotic 2 weeks treatment is all you need. I have been on antibiotics for a year (i took each combination of antibiotics about 2 months), and still no success. I think it's a matter of finding the right antibiotic that the h pylori is not resistent to.

Hope you find the right one, and I hope you feel better. =]

[rifle_li]

I think there are some salvage regimens you can try again, so do not be frustrated. Please read the file below: docs/200808%20stenstrom%20Hp%20Treatment.pdf
Here is a salvage regimen on the file: PPI standard dose bd/bismuth subcitrate 120 mg qid/furazolidone 200 mg bd/tetracycline 500 mg qid. Maybe you can try. Good luck!

[HPgirl]

Hey Sarah, that antibiotic is not avail in Canada
Let me know how it works out. Waiting on the advice from Dr. M.

[HPgirl]

Hi Fungus, don't get too discouraged. It's a tough battle but there is an answer. There are more things to try. I agree with Sarah and HExpert, the right combination and you will beat it. I wish this I had this information/was connected here when I was at the 2 year mark. It's the best information out there and lets you know that you're not alone.
Let us know how things go. Wishing you good health.